Combination sheath and nail file



June 13, 1950 E 2,511,278

COMBINATION SHEATH AND NAIL FILE Filed June 6. 1949 ,FlG .5 lo RONALD e. LYLE lnventor attornegs Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to toilet kits, and more particularly, to a combination comb and nail file.

My invention contemplates the employment of a comb of conventional pocket size and style, which will have formed in its manufacture a slot in the back portion of the comb, which slot will be open only at one end. In combination with the comb, for ease of carrying and certainty of having the two articles always present, a specially constructed nail file will be employed. This combination will provide a carrying case, in effect, for a nail file, which will prevent it from damaging the pocket lining of the wearer and it will be readily found, in that the comb itself is of such size as to be readily located in the pockets.

I am well aware that many attempts have been made in the past to provide a combination comb and nail file. However, all of the various styles that have been observed, have been characterized by constructions that were either unsightly, or difiicult or unhandy to use. In many cases the combination was effected in such a manner that the nail file was not adequately sheathed and might provide considerable hazard to the user while he was carrying it in his pocket. In my present combination nail file and comb, I believe I have overcome the deficiencies of the combination units of the style that have been previously made, and have provided a symmetrical, neat, safe unit.

The principal object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide a comb in which a nail file is securely sheathed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a combination nail file and comb, in which the nail file does not detract from the utility of the comb when it is used, and further, that the nail file may be entirely withdrawn from the comb when it is used, so that the comb in no way affects its convenient use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sheath for a straight nail file, which sheath is curved about its longitudinal axis so as to force a curved form into the nail file that will insure its maintaining its position within the sheath.

A further object of my invention is to provide at one end of the nail file a deformation and to provide a co-acting deformation in the body of the comb, so that they will co-act to hold the nail file in the fully sheathed position.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

In the drawing-s:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of my invention, in which the nail file is partially withdrawn from its sheath in the comb.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a comb with my preferred form of nail file in place, sheathed within the same, the nail file being indicated in dotted lines for that portion within the sheath.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal view in section, taken along the line of 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the nail file as the same would appear taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and showing in dotted lines the outline of the sheath within the comb, to which the nail file must conform; and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, the numeral Ill designates a comb of the preferred form for use in my combination toilet kit. This comb may be provided with any 7 of the preferred arrangements of comb teeth l2, and has a back portion I l which again can normally conform to the accepted standards of comb construction. Within the comb back Hi, I have formed a nail file sheath Hi. This is normally formed by the employment of a slightly curved metal core, which when withdrawn provides a sheath of suificient width and depth to house the form of nail file shown generally in my drawings. But its outstanding characteristic is that, from end to end, it is curved, after the showing of Figure 3 particularly, where it will be noted that the comb material is relatively thin at 8 and thick at 20. Whereas the reverse is true at 22 and 23. The same is also true at the opposite ends, as at 25 and 26. The sheath I6 is fully enclosed, excepting for the end opening at 28, where the opening is made on the thin side of the material, and this leaves considerable material for strength at 38 to form a file shield. Attention is invited to the fact that the cut at 32 is beveled. On the opposite side of the sheath, I have provided a detent or boss 3 5, which extends out into the sheath proper.

In referring to Figure 4, I have shown a longitudinal section through my nail file 36. This file has a body portion, as will be noted in Figure 2, at 38, that conforms fully to the accepted standard proportions of pocket nail files, and it is of the usual material and thickness so that it can easily be bent along its longitudinal axis. This faculty, in co-action with the bowed sheath, as

represented in Figure 3, and which is indicated in dotted lines at 40 in Figure 4, provides one of the locking means I employ to insure that my nail file will stay in position in the comb while it is being carried, and will not rattle therein. At what is normally the exposed, or handle end of the nail file, I provide increased thickness, as shown at 42, and this member has formed on its one margin a beveled portion 44, adapted to coact with the bevel at 32 in the comb, to insure accurate positioning of the file, and to make its removal from the sheath more easily accomplished.

I have further provided for a second securing means, in that I have formed a recess at 45 within the nail file and this recess is adapted to co-act with the detent or boss 34, shown in. Figure 3. This arrangement, particularly in view of the bowing of the file when it is in the sheath, provides a file securing means, that on one hand insures the positioning of the nail file, but permits its easy removal when a force is properly applied in that efiort.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of a combination comb and nail file.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A combination sheath and finger nail file, consisting of an elongated sheath having a recess extending substantially the length of said sheath; said recess bein curved along its longitudinal axis and having a cross-sectional form conforming generally to the cross-sectional shape of a nail file; said sheath having a side opening to said recess, disposed near one end of said sheath, said opening having a margin, normal to the longitudinal axis of said recess, beveled outwardly; said sheath having a file shield extending from opposite the beveled margin outwardly to the end of the said sheath; said shield having a detent extending outwardly from the inner wall surface of said recess; a finger nail file adapted to be sheathed within said recess; a portion of said file being of increased thickness and adapted to lie upon said shield; said portion of said file having a depression adapted to co-act with said detent and form a securin means for said file; and an undercut end wall, of said file portion of increased thickness, adapted to co-act with the beveled margin of said sheath.

2. A combination sheath and finger nail file, consisting of: an elongated sheath having a recess extending substantially the length of said sheath; said recess being curved along its longitudinal axis and having a cross-sectional form conforming generally to the cross-sectional shape of a nail file; said sheath having an opening to said recess, disposed near one end of said sheath,

said opening having a margin, normal to the longitudinal axis of said recess, beveled outwardly; said opening being formed on the side of said sheath where the longitudinal curve of said recess has reduced the material thickness of said sheath to a minimum; said sheath having a file shield extending from opposite the beveled margin outwardly to the end of the said sheath; said shield having a detent disposed centrally of said shield and extending outwardly from the inner wall surface of said recess; a finger nail file adapted to be sheathed within said recess; a portion of said file being of increased thickness and adapted to lie upon said shield; said portion of said file having a depression adapted to co-act with said detent and form a securin means for said file; and an undercut end wall of said file portion of increased thickness adapted to co-act with the beveled margin of said sheath.

3. A combination sheath and finger nail file, consisting of: an elongated sheath having a recess extending substantially the length of said sheath; said recess being curved along its longitudinal axis and having a cross-sectional form conforming generally to the cross-sectional shape of a nail file; said sheath having an opening to said recess, disposed near one end of said sheath; said sheath having a file shield extending from opposite the beveled margin outwardly to the end of the said sheath; said shield having a detent extending outwardly from the inner wall surface of said recess; a finger nail file adapted to be sheathed within said recess; a portion of said file being of increased thickness and adapted to lie upon said shield; and said portion of said file having a depression adapted to co-act with said detent and form a securing means for said file.

4. A combination sheath and finger nail file, consisting of: an elongated sheath having a recess extending substantially the length of said sheath; said recess being curved along its longitudinal axis and having a cross-sectional form conforming generally to the cross-sectional shape of a nail file; said sheath having an opening to said recess, disposed near one end of said sheath, said opening having a margin, normal to the longitudinal axis of said recess, beveled outwardly; said sheath having afile shield extending from opposite the beveled margin outwardly to the end of the said sheath; a finger nail file adapted to be sheathed within said recess; a portion of said file being of increased thickness and adapted to lie upon said shield; and an undercut end wall of said file portion of increased thickness adapted to co-act with the beveled margin of said sheath.

RONALD G. LYLE.

No references cited. 

